Burning smell after taking mask off???

Janine · Post by **Janine** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 4:21 pm

Hello!

I have been on CPAP for about a week and a half, and I have noticed that after I take off the mask, I get a really strong smell. It is unpleasant, and I can only equate it to the smell of burning dust (you know, in the fall when the furnace goes on for the first time - at least I think that's what that smell is).

It lasts for a while, ranging from a couple of minutes if I have had the mask on for a couple of hours, to about 10 minutes for overnight. And I notice that if I breathe deep during the day, I get it again.

I searched the forum and came up with this thread which sounds similar

viewtopic.php?t=17345&highlight=smell

Anyone else have this? Or any thoughts? It is kind of like getting slapped in the face the second I take off the mask, and I can't say I am enjoying it.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 9:50 pm

I was waiting for others to answer you, so I'll fess up, I have that happen a lot of the time. I think it comes from us breathing filtered air and getting used to not having everything coming in with our air. Also the mask I use dodn't come new and had a smoke smell, it has went away but probably still lingers. I think our sence of smell is stronger after XPAP. In a couple of minutes it goes away, unless the wife burns the toast. Jim

She also burns the water but that doesn't smell too bad, for long.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:01 pm

Just a footnote, I have masks (filter 3M) that you wear to screen out cold air and pollen, after I remove it I get the same smell. To me it's not unpleasant, it reminds me of walnut hulls, we would go out and collect them to make some great fudge in the winter. Jim

snorin747 · Post by **snorin747** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:23 am

I work night shift and sleep during the day. I have discovered that there are all sorts of weird odors I wake up to. Including and occasional burning smell. I installed a smoke detector in my bedroom (really we should have one already).

Speaking of which, I need to replace the battery in my smoke detector.
Done.

-747

Janine · Post by **Janine** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 12:36 am

Yeah, I am thinking that I am just getting more sensitive. I was pretty sensitive to smell before and I think that our bedroom is really dusty. We moved in December from an all laminate house with 3 dogs, to an all carpet house and 4 dogs. The carpet will all go eventually but I am thinking the bedroom needs to change now.

The good news is that the cpap seems to eliminate all the noxious odors coming from my bedmate!

Janine · Post by **Janine** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 1:29 pm

It turns out that the burning smell comes as soon as the cpap is turned off but still while I have the mask on. I wonder if the filter needs changing? I am hopefully upgrading to an auto today, so I will see if it makes a difference.

t-bone · Post by **t-bone** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 6:53 pm

I have noticed the same thing--when I shut down my machine, I smell that "dust burning" smell right away, mask on or mask off.

As another poster mentioned, I am sure it's that I'm breathing filtered air while my machine is on, but once it is no longer providing pressure, I'm bringing unfiltered air in through the exhaust ports in my mask.

I notice it more on cooler mornings than on warmer mornings, suggesting to me that it's my furnace ductwork I'm smelling. Time to have the ducts cleaned, and change that air filter in the HVAC system.

Hope this helps.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:43 pm

wash your foam filter and dry it in a towel. It can get loaded up with dust sucked in out of the air. If you are brave you can spray a little frebreze on the foam and dry it, that may remove some of it.

doctor · Post by **doctor** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:24 am

Those that are smelling something burning when nothing of such exists are possibly experiencing olfactory hallucinations, which is a symptom of a neurological disorder. The individual experiencing such is recommended to be seen by a neurologist to rule-out any neurological disorder such as a tumor. Just a suggestion by a professional.

Snoredog · Post by **Snoredog** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:46 am

doctor wrote:Those that are smelling something burning when nothing of such exists are possibly experiencing olfactory hallucinations, which is a symptom of a neurological disorder. The individual experiencing such is recommended to be seen by a neurologist to rule-out any neurological disorder such as a tumor. Just a suggestion by a professional.

you sound like my neuro, it's all in your head!!

I just got a new BlueAir 402 HEPA filter the other day for the bedroom to replace a non-working Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra, mainly for dust removal as I don't smoke.

After it was on only a couple hours I was surprised to smell a unique odor coming from the air purifier. I would have thought a air purifier would have removed odors not add them. I'm sure it is just the glue used in the manufacture of the certified HEPA filter creating the odor and it will soon go away.

christinequilts · Post by **christinequilts** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 3:19 pm

Goofproof wrote: I think it comes from us breathing filtered air and getting used to not having everything coming in with our air.

Sort of like how bright it seems when you walk out of a movie theater after sitting in the dark for a couple hours

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 6:18 pm

christinequilts wrote:
Goofproof wrote: I think it comes from us breathing filtered air and getting used to not having everything coming in with our air.
Sort of like how bright it seems when you walk out of a movie theater after sitting in the dark for a couple hours

Sensor Overload! Jim

Janine · Post by **Janine** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 10:07 pm

LOL, olfactory hallucinations, just what I need! As a trauma therapist, I am interested in extra voices, or burning toast or rubber but don't want to find them so close to home. I am already running out of space on Axes 1 and 3!

I appreciate the thought and I don't think that is what it is. I got a new machine and the smell went away. I think it was the filter needing cleaning (I am on loaners right now). And I recently had an MRI and CT and there was nothing on there that wasn't meant to be.

telly · Post by **telly** » Fri Apr 20, 2007 11:24 pm

I have this sensation as well.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Apr 21, 2007 8:15 am

I have pretty much quit using the lanolin in my nose and that seems to have helped me. Well, that and I guess that we don't use the furnace much either. (So I could have been smelling something related to that maybe?)

Kimberly

Burning smell after taking mask off???

Burning smell after taking mask off???

I've noticed it, too

Burning smell

Re: Burning smell

Humidifier

Mask

Additional Comments: sleep is good